Guess what? Tua Tagovailoa is back to quarterbacking the Miami Dolphins after exiting the NFL concussion protocols in Week 7. And wouldn't you know it, that puts the Dolphins right back in the driver's seat ahead of their Week 8 matchup vs. the Detroit Lions on Sunday, October 30, at 1 p.m. EST.
Does Tagovailoa's return also have a huge impact on Miami's playoff aspirations? It's tough to say. They sit at 4-3, which gives them some wiggle room, but the AFC East is a tough division. Without some pull-back from the Buffalo Bills or the truly shocking New York Jets, the Dolphins' odds to make the 2022 NFL playoffs are unlikely to improve unless they go on an epic winning streak.
As luck would have it, an epic winning streak isn't out of the question when looking at Miami's upcoming schedule. However, before we dig into that, let's have a peek at the latest NFL online betting odds for Dolphins vs. Lions, courtesy of fine people from BetOnline:
Please note that our Dolphins vs. Lions betting odds are accurate entering Tuesday, October 25. With plenty of time separating us from the opening kickoff, you will want to double-check these online NFL betting odds for any changes right up until you submit your wager.
If you're among those still looking for a place to bet on Dolphins vs. Lions in Week 8, allow us to point you toward our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. All the information we collect is designed to show you how to find and sign up with the best online NFL betting sites in 2022. Even more convenient, spotting the right site only takes a couple of minutes!
Anyway, that's enough of a preamble. Let's dive into Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions picks, featuring predictions on the outright winner, the point spread and, like always, the over/under.
Tua Tagovailoa is Back, and So are the Miami Dolphins' NFL Playoff Hopes
After dropping three straight without Tua Tagovailoa under center, the Dolphins returned to their winning ways against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. And not a moment too soon, either. Their playoff hopes were fading without their QB1.
Though Tagovailoa looked very much like someone who hadn't played in a few weeks, there is plenty of cause for optimism. Prior to suffering his concussion, he piloted one of the most promising passing attacks in the NFL. To this day, the Dolphins still rank fourth in net yards per attempt through the air, largely because of the damage he did with star wideouts Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill to open the season.
Risk-takers might be inclined to fade Miami. Not only is Tua still working his way into form, but the defense has taken a step back in recent weeks. The Dolphins are now 24th in passing yards allowed and hovering around the bottom 10 in passing touchdowns surrendered. But they've had to face a handful of elite quarterbacks over the past weeks, including Joe Burrow in Cincinnati and Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. When it came time to tighten things up last week against the manageable Steelers, Miami did just that. They allowed just 10 points.
Even more encouraging for the Dolphins, they get to fatten up their stats against the Lions, who have scored a total of six points over the last two weeks...combined. While Detroit put up some glitzy numbers out of the gate this season, Miami should be able to pull out a road win without much issue.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins (-164)
Here's Why the Dolphins Point Spread Against the Lions Offers Great Value
Below you can see the latest NFL Week 8 point spread betting odds for Dolphins vs. Lions:
- Miami Dolphins, -3.5 (-105)
- Detroit Lions, +3.5 (-115)
Linemakers don't seem convinced either team will separate themselves, which is why the Lions at +3.5 are the betting favorite. But these odds feel like they're reading too much into the Dolphins' performance without Tua on the road, which included two losses in which they failed to tally even 20 points. The offense will be a different beast now that they're closer to full strength.
Also: Are we just going to ignore how bad the Lions have been over the past two games? Sure, going up against the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots defenses is a huge test. But they didn't even muster a touchdown through those two tilts.
If you ask us, the Lions offense was operating on borrowed time with Jason Goff anyway. In no world is he captaining an offense routinely topping 21 points per game. This should be a matchup the Dolphins win by at least six points.
OSB Prediction: Miami Dolphins, -3.5 (-105)
PSA: Steer Completely Clear from the Over in Dolphins vs. Lions...Seriously
Here are the latest NFL Week 8 over/under betting odds for Dolphins vs. Lions:
- Over 50.5 (-106)
- Under 50.5 (-114)
Get us all the way away from this over.
Yes, the Lions averaged 35 points per game through their first four. But that was a lifetime ago at this stage. We have little doubt Tua can lead an offensive resurgence for the Dolphins, and yet, even if he does, we don't see Detroit coming anywhere close to holding up their end of the bargain. Everything from their passing attack to their ground game has devolved into a disaster, and few teams have struggled to protect the football more over their past two games.
OSB Prediction: Under 50.5 (-114)
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